Continuing saga on mosquitoes...

5 years ago

Today I mixed up a concoction and sprayed the yard.

I've used it in the past at our previous home, and totally forgot about it!!

My daughter reminded me of it when I was complaining about the pesky bloodsuckers.

It's equal parts beer, Epsom salt & Listerine, attached to a hose sprayer.

I started in the backyard. When I went out the patio door, I was swarmed by mosquitoes. That's where I began spraying. Sprayed the concrete, brick walls & hanging baskets of flowers & ferns. Then I made my way around the rest of the yard.

By the time I got back to the patio, I was literally a hot (& sweaty) mess. Ripe mosquito bait. I sat down to take my yard shoes off and realized there was nothing buzzing around me.

I'll go out this evening and check again to see if it actually worked.

Featured Answer

maddielee

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hope it works. And doesn’t smell like a beach bar with patrons who have excellent breath.

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Comments (16)

aok27502
5 years ago
Ok, I have to wonder how anyone came up with this concoction? But if it works, hallelujah!
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pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Grandson, (10 & prime mosquito bait) is trying to earn money.

He offered to clean the outdoor string lights on the patio. Okay, he didn't "offer" I told him I'd pay him. ;-) Took him about 45 minutes.

NOT ONE MOSQUITO!!!!!!
Jilly
5 years ago
Basically, they get so drunk, they can’t land on you. 😁
pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
Must be! But they're so chill due to the epsom salts, they don't care. LOL
arcy_gw
5 years ago
Let us know how long it lasts. Back in the day neighbors tried lemon soap in a similar manor and it worked for the long enough to have a gathering in their back yard. They do like to hide in tall grass.
pudgeder thanked arcy_gw
pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
I could still smell the Listerine this morning (never could really smell the beer) and didn't see any mosquitoes.

DGS reported that did have 3 bites on him last night. He wasn't sure if they occurred when he was on the patio or not. But 3 is better than the potential dozens!
Arapaho-Rd
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Saw THIS on Today's Homeowner show. Haven't tried yet myself.
pudgeder thanked Arapaho-Rd
bpath
5 years ago
At least your yard is now minty-fresh!
pudgeder thanked bpath
Feathers11
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Does that concoction not hurt the grass and landscape?

ETA found a few articles about this, and apparently doesn't hurt the landscape.
pudgeder thanked Feathers11
pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
It worked for several days... then it rained yesterday and now they're back. (Not as badly as the pergola is covered.) I'm going to apply it again later today while it's cool.
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years ago
That sounds like tremendous effort --- how big is your yard?
Jilly
5 years ago
Feathers, you reminded me — we used one of the Off sprays last year, and it killed the grass where we were standing! After one time! I’ll never use that again.
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years ago
The tests conducted "in these studies contained much higher concentrations of the essential oil than that found in Listerine Antiseptic — 40 percent to 75 percent concentrations as opposed to Listerine's .092 percent."

USA today discusses the use of Listerine (IDK about beer and Epsom salts but this may be of interest). https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/07/11/fact-check-listerine-products-dont-kill-mosquitoes/5409389002/
Arapaho-Rd
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The Old Farmers Almanac says rubbing skin with apple cider vinegar or try drinking a beverage called Switchel / Haymaker's Punchthat uses apple cider vinegar as an ingredient. This might keep them from biting but won't clear your yard.
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years ago
My jaded opinion - if any of this really worked, using simple, cheap ingredients, someone would have made a business out of it. But since everything I read debunks these myths and concoctions as providing no or very short lived relief, no one is going to create a product based on fraud.